IOWA CITY, Ia. — It was a clash of college wrestling titans and a spectacle, all in one. A day when the sport put its best foot forward in record-setting style.

An NCAA dual match-record 42,287 fans, nearly triple the previous record, came to Kinnick Stadium to see No. 4 Iowa knock off top-ranked Oklahoma State, 18-16, in the Grapple on the Gridiron.

“This was an impact day for our sport,” wrestling icon Dan Gable said.

And while the results may turn out to be nothing more than a ripple in a long season, it could provide a spark for a sport that could use an assist.

“Our sport can always use good promotion,” Gable said. “Sometimes we’re on the bubble a little, whether it be in college or internationally. And because of that, we need stuff like this. I feel pretty good about it.”

An hour before the match started, Gable held court for a long line of admirers. He signed his new book, “A Wrestling Life.” He posed for pictures. He shook hands. And he predicted the Grapple on the Gridiron would give the sport a boost.

“When it first came out, it didn’t make people jump or listen,” Gable said. “But they sold like 20,000 tickets in the first five hours and people were like, 'Whoa.’ And now it’s 40,000, and it’s going to be watched by Russia. It’s going to be watched by Iran. It’s going to be all over the world.”

Former Iowa wrestling head coach and Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable signs copies of his book prior to the Hawkeyes' dual against Oklahoma State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. David Scrivner / Iowa City Press-Citizen

Iowa's Thomas Gilman points to the crowd after his 9-1 major decision over Oklahoma State's Eddie Klimara during their dual at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. David Scrivner / Iowa City Press-Citizen

Oklahoma State coaches swarm the mat after a shove from Iowa's Thomas Gilman as he wrestles Eddie Klimara at 125 pounds during their dual at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. David Scrivner / Iowa City Press-Citizen

The view from the Paul W. Brechler Press Box reminded me of a moment nearly 50 years ago. It also involved another top-ranked team.

No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Houston played a basketball game in the Astrodome on Jan. 20, 1968. It was the first regular-season NCAA basketball televised nationally. Houston ended the top-ranked Bruins’ 47-game winning streak, 71-69, before a crowd of 52,693.

That was a game and a show all in one. So was the Grapple on the Gridiron.

“It was an incredible atmosphere,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “Even I can’t deny that. And I’m the one that likes to talk about the performance. But this was a performance within itself.”

CLOSE

The Iowa coach says winning the dual, not just the attendance record, was important.
Chad Leistikow | Hawkcentral.com

Wrestling is part of the fabric in Iowa, a state with a passionate fan base for wrestling. It’s not that way nationally. There are 77 NCAA Division I programs now, a number that has stabilized in recent years.

“College wrestling needs these big events at the beginning of the year,” Oklahoma State coach John Smith said.

Look for someone to take a run at Iowa’s record crowd in the near future. And if they do, it will do nothing but help the sport.

“We definitely set a standard (Saturday),” Smith said. “I don’t think people are going to sit around and go, 'You can have the record.’ It forces all of us to pay a little closer attention to creating great environments for dual meets.”

Hats off to Iowa, and the sport of wrestling, for thinking outside the box.

Hawkeye columnist Rick Brown is a 10-time Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Follow him on Twitter: @ByRickBrown.